English–French

“keep” in French

French

Alsodonjon · conserver

Pronunciation

IPA/mɛ̃təniʁ/

Example

Je dois maintenir ma voiture en bon état.

I have to keep my car in good condition.

Illustration for maintenir (keep)

How to say “keep” in French

“Keep” in French is maintenir.

A support keeps an object, system, or quality from slipping out of its current state.

Full entry for maintenir: usage tips, similar words and word origin

Example sentences with maintenir

Elle doit maintenir son rythme de travail.

She has to keep up her work pace.

Tips for using maintenir

  • Maintenir is common in formal, administrative, and technical contexts, while garder or tenir often sounds more natural in everyday speech.

Other French words for “keep”

Le donjon de ce château a été restauré récemment.

The keep of this castle was recently restored.

Nous conservons la confiture dans le placard.

We keep the jam in the cupboard.

“keep” in other languages